Another month whizzed by some days it was sunny and some it wasn’t. Some days Karen had medical appointments, some days (but not many) she didn’t. Karen would also as many days we entertained family and friends but some we didn’t. She also wants full credit recorded for her Christmas in July event that we all enjoyed.
Karen’s medical issues continue and it was confirmed she does need a hip replacement. Ironically this came just at a time where the daily exercises seem to be alleviating much of the pain. So, Karen has decided to try and get through to next Spring before having it done otherwise it would disrupt too many already booked trips. However, I have insisted that if the pain becomes unbearable at any time, then she will have it done immediately.
She has also had the ‘lump’ (or small alien as I called it) removed from her neck in a quick medical procedure which despite having her throat cut resulted in just 3 stitches. It was as they suspected harmless but there was a concern it could have kept growing.
Then on top of that she has been told she needs 2 wisdom teeth removed but again it’s not urgent for now so has asked to defer it for another year until after her hip is sorted. I really do need a new fully working wife.
One of the highlights of the last month was being privileged enough to be given tickets to attend the VJ Day National memorial service held in Norwich Cathedral. Relatives of FEPOW’s travelled from all over the country to be there. It was a lovely service and spectacle.
The following day we also attended a follow up FEPOW legacy event in the newly re-opened Norwich Castle Museum. This was an extremely interesting day involving presentations, an old BBC documentary and a short play. After this we sneaked into the Castle itself and wandered around including up on the monuments.
My optimism for the new football season lasted about 20 minutes into the first match. So far, we look a poor team again. It might all click into place, but then again it might not. Certainly, if we so not keep hold of a certain American up front I cannot see where any goals are going to come from. The last game against Middlesborough was only memorable for the company and comfort from watching it from a box with hospitality.
As ever there have been lots of cultural theatre visits, the best of which was seeing Operation Mincemeat in London. The 5-star views are well justified. I am not sure that seeing Micael Bublé at Sandringham counts as cultural especially as he appeared drunk and rambling even if it didn’t affect his voice. We felt disrespected by him particularly considering the price of the tickets.
One surprise for us was the free walking tour of St Benet’s Abbey we took. What a fascinating and curious place it is, and we would both thoroughly recommend it.
This brings me to our next trip to a new country for us – Finland. Barry & Ellie visited here a couple of years back and loved the place. Then whilst Karen was recovering from her back surgery and watching far too much daytime TV and travel programmes for own good. One such programme involved someone (Susan Calman?) travelling to Helsinki and like Barry & Ellie taking the overnight train up to Rovaniemi which is on the Arctic Circle. And so, this morning we are recreating that trip albeit without a TV crew filming us.
It was an early start, and we were on the road at 7.45am. As ever Karen was a delightful driving companion as she managed to sleep until we arrived at Stansted Airport.
There had been an offer when I booked on the short stay car park – blue zone that I had booked. I’d forgotten how long a walk it was to the terminal and Karen bemoaned she would have rather parked in the mid stay and caught a bus.
Given that today was the Sunday before the last Bank Holiday of the year it was somewhat surprising to find Stansted the most deserted, we have ever seen. There was no queue at Security – they were waiting for us. It was the same in the Lounge where there was no wait or queue and plenty of empty tables inside.
We had our usual glasses of pink fizz alongside a cooked breakfast, and it was soon time to go to the gate.
Just as we were leaving, I realised I had a problem with my walking shoes I was wearing for the trip. Inside the back some plastic had come through the lining and was cutting into my heel. That was not good, and it was as I then remembered how my last pair of walking shoes went. I tried to fix it but to no avail. I tried walking in them but it quite painful. Karen was not sympathetic and said I should have examined them microscopely before we had left to check them for wear. I had to change into a much comfier but more flimsier pair of Skechers which were the only other pair I had with me and not exactly great for a trip to the arctic circle. Not the best of starts to the trip.
The flight was full, but boarding was quick and easy as well and we pulled away from the gate early.
It was though still a boring 2 ½ flight which seemed to drag. Eventually we landed into a lovely Helsinki airport which felt more like a shopping centre than terminal. Immigration was almost a pleasure, and we had a chap with a lovely officer.
We walked to the railway station which was situated below the terminal down the longest escalator I have ever seen. Despite Karen’s worries I sorted out the correct tickets and got us onto the correct train to Helsinki Central Station about 28 minutes away.
The landscape was grey, and bleak as do most railway journeys when the sky is dark and overcast. We were soon there, and I was confused that there was no one or no machine to validate our carefully purchased tickets as we left the train and station.
Our hotel was carefully selected to be only a few minutes walk from the station and met with Karen’s full approval which was a relief.
After settling ourselves and having a cuppa we headed out to find somewhere for dinner. We didn’t have to walk far to find the place recommended by the very blonde Finnish receptionist. It was called Vapiano. It was a fresh made pasta and pizza place and was a cross between a takeaway and sit down restaurant.
After being confused by the Finnish menu we found there was an App which had an English setting. We placed our order online and were then confused for a while whether it would be served to I had to collect. Eventually I found there was a progress page on the app and when it was ready I collected it. We thought the prices were reasonable’ish. The food was very acceptable. We stuck to Pepsi Max as the glasses of wine were just under 10 Euros each.
With that we headed back for more cuppas in the room and watched a documentary of aerial shots of Hungary which most interesting and whetted Karens desire to visit there even more.
And with it was time for bed said Zebedee.
